Patrick "Pat" Henker

Pat passed peacefully with his family at his side at 79 years of age at his winter home in Sun City West, Arizona on November 9, 2022, following a lengthy and bravely fought battle with cancer.  He is survived by his wife Edie (Lockrem), daughter Susan (Paul) Homik, Micheal (Jennifer) Henker, as well as grandchildren Reid and Jonah Homik and Sienna Henker, all of Calgary, Alberta. 

Second son to Wilda and Willard Henker, Pat spent his childhood in Granum, Alberta, and had fond memories of helping his dad and older brother Terry at their garage and International Harvester (IHC) dealership.  Following graduation from high school in Granum, he attended secondary school in Calgary to receive his heavy-duty mechanic’s license and continued working in the family business where he joined his father and brother at their IHC dealership in Claresholm, Alberta.

Pat and Edie were married in Claresholm December 12, 1964 and lived in Claresholm with their two children.  Pat later acquired his private pilot’s license, and the family regularly flew to their vacation home near Sandpoint, Idaho where they enjoyed their time water-skiing and boating in the summer and snowmobiling and snow-skiing at Schweitzer in the winter.  The grandchildren who blessed the family in later years were a joy to him.

Pat enjoyed his business and personal relationships with the local farmers and ranchers in Southern Alberta.  He attended a coffee group that he met with every morning before heading to work.  The Henker brothers later operated a Gulf (Petro Canada) gas station, acquired the Claresholm carwash, and the Datsun and Ford franchises and sold their dealership in 1986.  Patrick continued to operate the Claresholm Car Wash until 1991 when he and Edie relocated to Post Falls, ID.

Pat and Edie began enjoying Arizona life in the early 1990’s, first in Mesa, where they were introduced to tennis, and they soon became active members in the tennis club.  They later moved to Sun City West in 2010 where they were also members of the tennis club.  Pat’s tennis friends were very important to him, and he enjoyed time with that group both on and off the court.  He was very involved in the Prostate Cancer Support group in Calgary and is remembered there as someone who was always a friendly and well-informed source of information but was also a good friend to those in similar circumstances as his own.

A memorial service will be held in Sun City West in early 2023, and Granum, AB in spring 2023, with details to follow.  Those wishing to make a donation in Pat’s memory could direct their donations to Prostaid Calgary at prostaid.org or by mail to Prostaid Calgary, Attn Brad Sterling, PO Box 72176 RPO Glenmore Landing, Calgary, AB T2V5H9.

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